Dulles, Allen, 1893-1969

Allen W. Dulles, nephew of Robert Lansing, Woodrow Wilson's Secretary of State, and brother of Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, was a lawyer, foreign-service officer, and intelligence official. He served with the United States Office of Strategic Services in Bern, Switzerland during World War II, during which he penetrated the German Foreign Ministry Office and the "July 1944" anti-Hitler conspirators. In 1947 he helped draft the National Security Act, which created the Central Intelligence Agency. In 1953 he was appointed the first civilian director of the CIA. Under Dulles, the CIA had a number of notable successes, but also had significant failures, such as the unsuccessful efforts to oust Castro from Cuba, culminating in the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion. In retirement, Dulles wrote books about his intelligence career. In 1963 he was called to serve on the Warren Commission to investigate the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

From the description of Allen W. Dulles papers, 1845-1971 (bulk 1918-1969) (Princeton University Library). WorldCat record id: 81612009

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